Roy Hodgson
Watford manager Roy Hodgson has sent a message to Premier League footballers amid the recent issues involving West Ham’s Kurt Zouma. Speaking to the press ahead of Watford’s home game against Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend, the former England manager explained how he thought footballers should behave on and off the pitch.
Roy Hodgson said: “It’s very sad sometimes, as a football person, and who is conscious of the fact that not everyone does care that much about football – you know, there are lots of people out there in the world who, for them football doesn’t exist – but for me, it’s a profession. It’s a profession I’ve given my life to. So it hurts me a little bit when that profession is denigrated, in a way it’s been denigrated at least on quite a few occasions by people doing things which are not only totally unacceptable, they’re totally illegal into the bargain.”
Hodgson was asked whether or not footballers now behave worse due to the amount of money being offered to young players in large contracts, but refuted the notion. Instead, he suggested the advent of social media was an explanation
Roy Hodgson said: “They’ve got to realise that the scrutiny is so much greater these days with social media and camera phones, etc. So, you know, they’ve got to be aware that if they do want to misbehave, they’re going to have a much greater chance of being caught out.”
Talking specifically about the Zouma incident, he refused to challenge West Ham’s decision to play the defender midweek.
Roy Hodgson said: “I mean, obviously, that’s some between himself, the club, the RSPCA and I believe even the police. So that is obviously important and, what’s the right word, really a matter which is not to be treated in any way lightly or negligently. But I trust that the people who are dealing with it the right way. And I certainly didn’t have any opinions myself on a moral basis as to what the West Ham should have done. The news and it had just broken before we played. They took the decision they took, and they will justify that decision, I’m sure, and then give their reasons for doing so.”
He did conclude, however
Roy Hodgson said: “I don’t feel good about those matters. But I don’t either want to sit here and with a moral hat on my head and start making judgments because you know people are human beings and they do make mistakes.”
Incidentally, when speaking about Saturday’s opposition, he was also keen to praise the manner in which Brighton manager Graham Potter conducts himself on the sideline.
Roy Hodgson said: “I think Graham Potter handles every aspect of the job perfectly. He’s very, very good with the mass media, the way he speaks. He has great dignity on the touchline. He is one of the guys that you’re pleased to speak to before and after the game. And he knows how to accept the defeat which of course is one of the hardest things to do when you’re a manager because we all want to throw our toys out the pram to some extent when we lose.”
